Salsa music originated primarily from Afro-Cuban music, particularly the son, which combined Spanish guitar traditions with African rhythmic and vocal elements in eastern Cuba in the early 20th century. While its roots are Cuban, salsa as a modern genre was developed and popularized mainly in New York City in the mid-20th century by Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians blending Afro- Cuban styles with jazz and other influences. Thus, salsa is a hybrid musical form born of Cuba but significantly shaped and named in the United States.
Roots and Influences
The foundational Afro-Cuban son music originated in rural eastern Cuba and spread to Havana in the early 1900s, featuring syncopated rhythms and call- and-response vocals. This tradition merged Spanish guitar music with African musical elements brought by enslaved Africans, creating a rich, dance-oriented music style.
Development in New York
In the 1940s and beyond, Cuban emigrants in New York, alongside Puerto Rican musicians, transformed these Afro-Cuban rhythms into what became known as salsa, adding elements from jazz, big band, and other Latin American styles. Key contributors included bandleaders like Machito, Tito Puente, and Celia Cruz.
Cultural Mixture
Salsa also reflects broader Caribbean cultural mixture including indigenous Taino musical elements and Spanish European traditions, though its core is Afro-Cuban. The name "salsa," meaning "sauce," was coined in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s to market this blend of Latin dance music styles.
In summary, salsa music originated in Cuba as Afro-Cuban son and other styles, but was shaped into the salsa genre and popularized in New York City with strong Puerto Rican involvement, forming the vibrant salsa music known worldwide today.